Childhood

Little is known about

the childhood of Pythagoras. He was born in 569 BC, on the island of Samos, to Mnesarchus, his father, and Pythais, his mother. His full name was Pythagoras of Samos. It is said that he had 2 brothers, although some say that he had 3. As far as we know, he had no sisters. His appearance is disputed, but there is a mutual belief that there was a birthmark on his thigh. As a child, Pythagoras was very well-educated, learning to play the lyre, a traditional Greek instrument, and recite poetry, such as the poems by Homer. Homer was the man who wrote The Illyiad and The Oddessy. Pythagoras spent his early years in Samos, but also traveled with his father to places like Italy and Tyre, which is where his father came from. There he was taught by intelligent men from Syria. There were three main philosophers that influenced Pythagoras. Their names were Pherekydes, who was known as the teacher of Pythagoras, Thales, and Thales' pupil, Anaximander. Pythagoras visited Thales when Pythagoras was about 19 (so in 550 BC), and Thales was an old man. Thales impacted Pythagoras in a big way, but didn't teach him much by means of knowledge. And then Pythagoras attended Anaximander's lectures.

This island looks a bit like a dugong, so the city of Samos, where Pythagoras was born, is at the bit between the body and the base of the curved tail. It is a bit hard to read, as it is pixelly because I had to stretch it to be able to see the writing at all. Sorry if my directions were a little bit ambiguous, and by the base of the tail I mean the north side. It is under the little anchor.